TEEN CHARGED IN RAPE, SLAYING

Fort Lauderdale police charged a 19-year-old man Tuesday with raping and killing a Wachovia Bank loan officer in her home.

Adam Blake Meretsky, of Fort Lauderdale, was arrested after detectives questioned him late Monday about the death of Candace Jarrell, 40, said police Sgt. Andy Pallen.

Meretsky was charged with murder, sexual battery and burglary with assault or battery, and is being held without bail at the Main Jail.

Police identified Meretsky through fingerprints lifted at Jarrell's home in the 2100 block of Northeast 63rd Court. Records show Meretsky, who lived near Jarrell, has a criminal history that includes drug and burglary convictions. He was in the midst of a two-year probation sentence when he was arrested Tuesday.

Authorities issued an alert for Meretsky on Monday, and he was taken into custody that night when an officer saw him on West Broward Boulevard and Northwest Seventh Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, Pallen said.

During questioning, Meretsky told detectives he broke into Jarrell's home Saturday night to steal various items, police said.

Jarrell arrived home during the break-in, and Meretsky confronted her, Pallen said. Investigators said the suspect then sexually assaulted Jarrell, strangled her and drove off in her 2004 Lincoln Aviator.

Pallen said Meretsky later traded the Aviator and other stolen goods with some unidentified people for crack cocaine. Police recovered the Aviator on Monday after an officer saw the sport-utility vehicle at a gas station on West Sunrise Boulevard and Powerline Road.

Several men were inside the SUV and fled from the officer, but abandoned the SUV several blocks away and ran. Police pursued them, but the men were not caught.

Jaime Hernandez can be reached at jahernandez@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4631.